Coined-up Dundee can justify odds; SCOTTISH DIVISION ONE.

Byline: Ian Wilkerson

LAST season Dundee went off as favourites to book their place in the SPL after being the only team that gave Hamilton a run for their money the year before.

After a shaky start they finished fourth following former boss Jocky Scott's reappointment at Dens Park, although at one time it looked like they would be struggling at the opposite end of the table.

They seem to have got their house in order now, and it makes things easier when you have a director in Calvin Melville who boasts a personal fortune in the region of pounds 120m.

While Scottish football has been tightening its belt and other First Division clubs such as Livingston are fighting for their very existence, Scott was promised a 25 per cent increase in his transfer budget compared to last season and has used it to pick up some of the best talent the second tier has to offer.

A total of pounds 275,000, the sort of funds most of their section rivals can only dream of, has been spent on Livi striker Leigh Griffiths - who finished as the second-best striker in the division last term with 21 goals in all competitions, and Partick's goalscoring midfielder Gary Harkins, who found the net 11 times.

Add Sean Higgins, who scored ten for Ross County last term, to the likes of Mickael Antoine-Curieand Colin McMenamin who were already at the club, and Scott has plenty of resources to make sure Dundee score more than the 11 goals on the road they managed last season.

They should be able to hit the ground running, and there is little doubt that they are the team to beat. Those contemplating a bet at 6-4 will be fearful of another implosion, but it is still a big price and one worth taking.

But their summer recruitment is not the only reason to get on. It is accompanied by the fact that there are plenty of question marks surrounding their principal rivals.

Terry Butcher did well to give Inverness a chance of staying in the SPL last season, but he has had to undertake a rebuilding programme at Caledonian Stadium.

A massive turnover of playing staff has taken place, with some players Butcher would have wanted to keep eventually leaving and, at 4-1, they cannot really be backed with any confidence when they are such an unknown quantity.

Relegated teams also have a terrible record in the section. No side have bounced straight back since Hibs in 1999 and only two have finished higher than fifth.

Dunfermline could well be Dundee's closest challengers. Former Northampton striker Andy Kirk is capable of having another good season and they showed they can cope with playing top-flight opposition when they knocked Aberdeen out of the Scottish Cup.

They also had the best away record in the section last term, so it is worth having a bit on them each-way.

Last year's runners-up Partick finished the season poorly, so despite securing the services of manager Ian McCall for another three years after he was linked with plenty of jobs over the summer they are readily swerved, and the same could be said of Queen Of The South.

The Doonhamers were excellent against the better teams in the division last term, bagging away victories at Dundee, Partick and eventual champions St Johnstone, but they still failed to make much of an impression overall.

Manager Gordon Chisholm will also have to cope with the loss of striker Stephen Dobbie to Swansea after he knocked in 23 goals last season to finish the division's top goalscorer.

Recommendations Dundee 3pts 6-4 Blue Square, Boylesports, S James Dunfermline 1pt e-w 13-2 Boylesports, S James, VC

CAPTION(S):

Dunfermline's Andy Kirk